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Baier: “The only time the table matters is after matchday 34”

With last week’s loss at home to TSG 1899 Hoffenheim in the past, FC Augsburg travel to Hannover to try and get back to winning ways on Saturday. FCA head coach Manuel Baum takes a positive approach to the challenges that lie ahead.

The FCA injury list is still having a big effect on what Manuel Baum is able to do. While Jan Moravek and Marco Richter participated in all of team training and Caiuby is making his return from suspension, Alfred Finnbogason and Jeffrey Gouweleeuw are still out with injury alongside Raphael Framberger and Kevin Danso. Baum remains positive nevertheless. “We’re always ready for whatever challenge we are faced with and this won’t change that. We have a good squad that can make up for the players that we have lost.” With young players like Kilian Jakob or Simon Asta emerging, Baum’s pool of players to choose from is growing. The worry that another player might pick up an injury in training is always there, although the team are still playing with a lot of energy. Captain Daniel Baier confirms as much: “We’re all old enough to know when you need to run that little bit harder in training and how to assess a certain situation.” The aim for the Hannover game remains clear. “If we’re aggressive and defend well, we can win,” says Baum.

Hannover 96 will be tough opponents

Hannover might have lost their last two games, but they can still go into Saturday feeling good about themselves. Salif Sané makes his return after suspension and is back with the rest of the squad. “Hannover have fared very well seeing as they’ve only just been promoted to the Bundesliga again. They play with a lot of aggression out on the pitch. It will be an intense game,” analyses Baum. For him and his team, the only thing that matters are the points, not the current standings in the table. “We want to win the game no matter what,” says Baier before adding: “The only time it matters is after matchday 34.”

The team has picked out the mistakes that were made against Hoffenheim and made sure to work on them this week. “We could have played much better and we were obviously disappointed to have lost. Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to the game against Hannover – every week brings a new opportunity with it,” says Baier.

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